Protests in Turkey

Chaos in Istanbul

Erdem Gunduz stands in a silent protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 18, 2013. Gunduz staged an eight-hour silent vigil in Taksim Square, scene of violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters in recent weeks, inspiring hundreds of others to follow his lead. Gunduz said he wanted to take a stand against police stopping demonstrations near the square.

Marko Djurica/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

Erdem Gunduz stands in a silent protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 18, 2013. Gunduz staged an eight-hour silent vigil in Taksim Square, scene of violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters in recent weeks, inspiring hundreds of others to follow his lead. Gunduz said he wanted to take a stand against police stopping demonstrations near the square.

Marko Djurica/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

Turkish choreographer Erdem Gunduz, center, stands in Taksim square, June 18, 2013. The man stood for several hours unnoticed before his presence on the flashpoint square went viral on the social network Twitter. He was then joined by hundreds of others who in solidarity decided to join his protest by also standing silently.

Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Chaos in Istanbul

A man emulating Turkish choreographer Erdem Gunduz by standing on Taksim square for a lone protest is arrested by Turkish police, June 18, 2013.

Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Chaos in Istanbul

Anti-government protestors stand in Taksim square after Turkish choreographer Erdem Gunduz' lone protest on June 18, 2013 in Istanbul. Gunduz stood for several hours unnoticed before his presence went viral on the social network Twitter. He was then joined by hundreds of others who in solidarity decided to join his protest by standing for hours on end.

Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images

Chaos in Istanbul

Turkish people stand on in Taksim square in Istanbul, June 18, 2013, during a wave of new alternative protests. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday claimed victory over Turkey's anti-government protesters after a heavy crackdown on the movement, as police raided homes and arrested dozens of demonstrators to stamp out nearly three weeks of unrest.

Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Chaos in Istanbul

Protesters run away from police water cannon trucks and tear gas during clashes between riot police and demonstrators in the streets adjacent to Taksim square in Istanbul, June 16, 2013. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rallied tens of thousands of his supporters in Istanbul on Sunday, hours after ordering a crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images

Chaos in Istanbul

A combination photo shows a protester being sprayed by the police's water cannon during a demonstration at Kizilay square in central Ankara, Turkey, June 16, 2013. Thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul overnight on Sunday, erecting barricades and starting bonfires, after riot police firing teargas and water cannon stormed a park at the center of two weeks of anti-government unrest.

Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

Riot police use tear gas to disperse protesters at the Gezi park near Taksim square in Istanbul, June 15, 2013. Police fired tear gas and jets of water to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in Istanbul's Taksim Square, shortly after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned police would intervene to end protesters' occupation of a park bordering the square.

Zan Kose/AFP/Getty Images

Chaos in Istanbul

Protesters light flares during a protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 12, 2013. Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators chanted and sang in Taksim Square early on Thursday, defying an order to end almost two weeks of protests against Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

Osman Orsal/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

Protesters chant anti-government slogans, silhouetted by the light of flares in Taksim square, in Istanbul, June 12, 2013.

Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo

Chaos in Istanbul

A riot police officer fires tear gas at anti-government protesters during a protest in Kennedy street in central Ankara, June 13, 2013.

Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

Protesters sleep in Gezi park in Istanbul's Taksim square, June 13, 2013. Turkey's ruling AK Party ordered protesters to leave Istanbul's central Gezi Park immediately and said it would consider holding a referendum on redevelopment plans which sparked almost two weeks of violent demonstrations.

Yannis Behrakis/AP Photo

Chaos in Istanbul

Protesters form a human chain in front of police forces at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 12, 2013. Turkey's government offered the first concrete gesture aimed at ending nearly two weeks of street protests. Proposing a referendum on a development project that triggered demonstrations that have become the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Erdogan.

Chaos in Istanbul

Protesters react after an explosion on a barricade during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013. Riot police fired water cannons and teargas at hundreds of protesters in Taksim Square, where demonstrations against plans to develop a park into a mall there turned violent.

Yannis Behrakis/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

Two protesters run to avoid a policeman during clashes at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013. Hundreds of riot police overran improvised barricades, firing tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon in running battles with protesters who have been occupying the area for more than a week.

Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Photo

Chaos in Istanbul

A riot policeman launches a tear gas canister during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013. Hundreds of police in riot gear forced through barricades, pushing many of the protesters who had occupied the square for more than a week into a nearby park.

Kostas Tsironis/AP Photo

Chaos in Istanbul

A protester holding a shield attempts to block a jet of water from a police water cannon during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013.

Osman Orsal/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

Anti-government protesters light flares during a protest in central Ankara, June 11, 2013.

Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Chaos in Istanbul

A man throws back a tear gas canister as Turkish police battle anti-government protestors as they try to reestablish police control of Taksim Square, June 11, 2013 in Istanbul.